Neil's Last Cast

Fellow Anglers Mourn the Passing of Casting Legend and Top All-round Angler Neil Mackellow.

TSF editor Paul Dennis writes: “Back in the days when I worked on Angler’s Mail, if I wanted some information on the casting scene, the man that I called was Neil Mackellow. He always had time for a chat, his knowledge was immense, and he explained things in ways that were very easy to understand. You didn’t need to be a tournament caster to gain a great deal of benefit from talking to Neil, he put things across so easily.

“He was very matter of fact about his own casting abilities and the records and titles that he had amassed, when, in a nutshell, he was one of the first casting superstars.

“We never actually met but I knew that he was a big bloke, and given the fact that the techniques of long casting were now well known, and that rod building technology was putting big throws within the reach of many anglers, I once asked him whether the physically big casters still had an advantage.

“Neil chuckled, then said: ‘It’s absolutely right that with good gear and technique it shouldn’t really matter, but it is a fact that the big guys can still put a lead further.’

“He paused for reflection, then added: ‘It’s not about brute strength, because that can be a hindrance as well as a help. What I think it comes down to is that at the exact point of release you need to be casting from a solid base, and that is where physically bigger guys have the advantage. They are rock solid, and a bigger mass naturally helps them achieve that.’

“It was a good, sensible, well thought out point, and talking to Neil’s contemporaries it was something that came across again and again. No frills, basic points, just a couple of words in the right place to help people along.”